Harriet and I are ready to get this thing started so we can be on the way to recovery. We have already exercised this morning, taken our non-sudsing disinfectant soap shower, fed cats and taken out the garbage. Busy work keeps us from thinking too much about our groaning stomach lusting after a cup of tea and a big bowl of steaming oatmeal with blueberries and bananas and yogurt and maple syrup and bran buds. Yes, I’m hungry! Actually, I would settle for a glass of water right now but I’m not going to screw things up here at the 12th hour. If Jesus could fast for 40 days and 40 nights, surely I can do it for a day, eh?
Rose is hiding in the closet. Well, she’s not hiding but staying there to express her displeasure at being left for god knows how long. Both cats have had their little radar ears tuning all week. They’d follow me around either physically or with their eyes waiting for me to tell them what the hell is going on. How do they know? It always baffles me how smart cats are. Like how do these cats know when I open a can of tuna fish that it’s not a can of tomatoes? But they do. I get it when I take a trip and there’s a suitcase sitting on the floor as a Big Fat Clue. But this time there’s no suitcase. Maybe it’s the clean house and the number of times Lennie has been around doing this and that. Whatever it is, they know something’s up. I’ll have to go upstairs with Temptations and have a heart-to-heart with Rose about the necessity of this disturbance in her daily routine. She’s such a princess sometimes. Nick just comes out and says Love Me Love Me Love Me and then goes back under the covers on the bed to hide.
I really am ready to get things rocking and rolling. I was worried when the surgeon’s secretary called yesterday that she was going to cancel the appointment. Instead, she just pushed it back another couple of hours. I hope the amazing Dr. M doesn’t get the 3:00 p.m. slump. Maybe I should take him a Mars Bar or something. But I’m staying positive just the same — I’ll just have to “keep my pecker up” (as Yoga Judith would say) just a little bit longer.
So I’m off. Dressed for the walk down to the hospital with Margaret. I went out today and asked one of the workmen next door to take my picture in my Go To Hospital Outfit. 
He said, “You’re wearing that?”
I said, “Sure, why not?”
He just shook his Portuguese head, sighed and took the picture.
I don’t know if he disapproved of the shirt or the overall outfit for this older woman. And, you know what, I don’t care.
Then, as a send off, I heard a sweet chorus of “Annie, Annie, Annie,” from my little friend next door. It reminded me of when he was just tiny and when his Dad would hold him up and he’d call and call for me. Sweet. He left me this card with all the things that he and I are going to do soon.
See you all post surgery! Harriet sends her regards.
Annie's Odyssey 
You rock, Annie!
By now your Surgery is complete and here’s to sending you healing light and love as you recover. Much Love Sharon